| The internet offers mixed reviews on many of the | | | | caught at that stage, the blisters will simply not develop. |
| dozens of cold sore medications on the market today, | | | | However, if I don't have any when the tingling begins, |
| ranging from statements like "my cold sore was gone | | | | or I wake up to find that the blisters have already |
| in two hours" to "this stuff made it worse!" Some cold | | | | begun to form, the cold sore will generally run its |
| sore medications obviously have a better track record | | | | course, lasting 9-10 days regardless of how much I |
| than others, but it can be difficult to find the perfect | | | | continue to apply. It really is important to apply Abreva |
| remedy for that annoying and embarrassing cold sore. | | | | immediately upon feeling any tingling or pain. Even an |
| The biggest factor that will contribute to the | | | | hour can make a big difference. |
| effectiveness of your chosen cold sore remedy is | | | | Zovirax (Aciclovir): |
| noting the stage at which the cold sore has developed | | | | Let me just say that I absolutely love Zovirax and I |
| when the first treatment is applied to the site. Any cold | | | | regret all the years I suffered with cold sores, spending |
| sore sufferer knows that the best way to treat a cold | | | | hours researching home remedies and |
| sore is to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Once | | | | over-the-counter products, when a simple call to the |
| blisters begin to form, you may be out of luck if you | | | | doctor for a prescription was the answer. It is truly a |
| are not using the right cold sore medication. I am a | | | | life-saver when it comes to cold sores. Whether it is |
| frequent cold sore sufferer who has tried almost | | | | applied at the first signs of a cold sore or even after |
| every home remedy and cold sore medication on the | | | | bumps and blisters have begun to form, it will zap my |
| market. In this article I am going to compare two of the | | | | cold sore in 24-48 hours. In addition, it does not "dry |
| most popular cold sore medications: Abreva, the only | | | | out" the cold sores which many medications do; |
| FDA approved over the counter medication and | | | | shrinking the blisters, but leaving a very hard scab that |
| Zovirax, an FDA approved prescription medication. | | | | cracks and bleeds. Zovirax also has something in it to |
| Abreva: | | | | relieve pain and itching. In most cases, if Zovirax is |
| Abreva can be purchased in almost any drug-store for | | | | applied during the tingling stage the cold sore does not |
| $16-$20. Right off the bat, it is important to note that | | | | develop (like Abreva). If it is applied after blisters have |
| you won't get much for what you pay. The medicine is | | | | formed, it shrinks the blisters overnight and relieves all |
| in a tiny 2 gram (.07 ounce) tube that is barely an inch | | | | the redness and irritation surrounding the sore. I have |
| long. I have seen many good (and many bad) reviews | | | | never had a cold sore for more than three days when |
| of Abreva, and my opinion falls somewhere | | | | using Zovirax. The one down-side to using this |
| in-between. Healing a cold sore quickly with Abreva is | | | | medication is the cost. A 5 gram tube of Zovirax |
| hit-or-miss. I have learned that if I liberally apply Abreva | | | | retails at about $120.00 and is subject to a higher |
| almost every hour as soon as I feel any burning or | | | | co-pay with insurance because there is no generic |
| tingling, it does help tremendously and there is 90% | | | | equivalent available yet. |
| chance that I will avoid a full blown breakout. Often, if | | | | |